Harriet Goes to Scotland

Harriet Goes To Scotland

Harriet stepped into the car with her Mummy. They were going to Scotland. Harriet had heard a lot about Scotland, but she had never visited before. It would be a long drive up there, so they were setting off early. Eventually, after many hours in the car, they reached their destination. It was a small place on the Firth of Clyde called Dunoon. Harriet and her Mummy were staying in a small hotel a few yards from the sea.

The hotel was friendly and welcoming, and Harriet really liked it. The guests were really nice to her and her Mummy. They thought they would enjoy their stay. Another little girl was staying in the hotel, her name was Lily. Lily and Harriet rushed down to the beach in the warm early evening to look at the sea. It was calm and peaceful, and the beach was full of pebbles, not sand.

There was a boy on the beach skimming pebbles on the water. Lily and Harriet went over to him and he showed them how to skim. He said his name was Peter. Harriet thought she would spend many happy hours with her friends doing this new activity whilst on holiday. After dinner in the hotel, Harriet and her Mummy took a lovely stroll by the shore and found a little play park.

The next day Harriet and her Mummy got into their car and drove upto Inverary. There was a castle there, and they got out of the car and explored it. On the roads they passed many forests and lochs and saw a lot of Scottish scenery. Really, it was breathtaking.

In Inverary Harriet came across a little old shop which sold antiques and old dolls. One of these dolls looked like an old magician. He was dressed in a black gown with red and blue stars on it, and around his neck he wore a yellow neckerchief. On his head he had a wizard's hat which was pointy and black and in his hand he had a silver wand. Harriet loved all things magical and knew she wanted to take him home. She asked her Mummy if they could go in and buy him.

"Oh alright, he is rather handsome," said Mummy.

In the shop the man in charge was rather old, and he had a long grey beard. He seemed very interested in someone who liked the doll.

"So, you like Taliesin," he said. "Did you know he was a famous wizard. He came from Wales and was one of the first Welsh poets but he visited Scotland, in fact around this very area of Inverary."

Harriet was spellbound. She knew she must have Taliesin and look after him. She put him in her little striped bag and handed over the money for him. The old man in the shop bade them goodbye with a twinkle in his eye. He almost seemed party to magic himself.

Coming back over hills and winding roads, Harriet stopped at Loch Lomond. Her and her Mummy stepped out of the car and Harriet clasped Taliesin close to her. It was twilight now and the sun was going down.

As Harriet looked into the deep waters of the loch, she could see an image forming on the water; it was like a wizard-shape written on the surface of the water. How very strange thought Harriet. As she took Taliesin out of her bag, she realized he was a bit wet and then from his eyes she could see real tears forming.

I've seen magic, thought Harriet. I must tell Mummy.

Mummy said that couldn't be, "but, Mummy," Harriet said, "Taliesin is crying."

She then showed Taliesin to her Mummy, but there were no tears and he was bone dry.

"I think you are imagining it, Harriet, you really must stop this."

Harriet thought, Mummy knows nothing of magic, Taliesin is unhappy.

The next day they were in Inverary again, and the old man from the shop was in town. He came up to them and said he needed Taliesin back from them. The other dolls in the shop were crying tears. Harriet's Mummy could not believe this but the old man persuaded her it was true. Reluctantly, Harriet handed Taliesin back and the man refunded her money. Harriet had seen magic from Taliesin and was unhappy to see him go, but it would be for the best. She didn't want any doll to be unhappy.

Back at the hotel Lily and Peter were playing in the lounge.

"What's happened to you?" they said on seeing Harriet.

"Oh, nothing," said Harriet, knowing she had acquired a belief in magic today.

She had a secret she would share with no one but Taliesin, the magic wizard of Inverary. In the magic world, Taliesin was happy again, that's all that mattered to Harriet.

The next day Harriet and her Mummy were out in the town of Dunoon.

"How about a souvenir, Harriet after all that trouble with the wizard Taliesin."

In the shop in the high street there was a wonderful doll complete with kilt of Scottish tartan, sporran and big beaver hat.

Harriet took the doll from off the shelf and as she did so she noticed something very strange, the Scotsman doll winked at her, she was sure of it.

Maybe the magic of Taliesin lingered on, but for Harriet and her mother they must now say goodbye to Lily and Peter and make for home. Their wonderful holiday was over.

This tale and five more can be purchased for 77p from amazon.co.uk as 'Harriet's Holidays'. Also available is 'Harriet's Adventures in Europe'. These are ebooks.